In the past, if someone illegally killed a trophy West Virginia buck like the one pictured at left, chances are the poacher would have paid a fine of $20 to $100, court costs, and a “replacement fee” for the buck of $200.
Now if he poaches that same buck, he should expect to pay a lot more.
A bill passed earlier this week by the West Virginia Legislature greatly increases trophy-buck replacement fees. A buck with a 14-to-16 inch antler spread, for example, would draw a $1,000 replacement charge. A spread of 16 t0 18 inches would bring a $1,500 fee, 18 to 20 inches a $2,000 fee. Antlers with spreads of 20 inches or greater would draw a maximum fee of $2,500.
Division of Natural Resources director Frank Jezioro hopes the higher fees will help reduce the number of trophies being poached, particularly in West Virginia’s four bow-only counties. Closed to firearm hunting since 1979, the counties — Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming — have developed a widespread reputation for producing big-racked whitetails.
Gov. Joe Manchin still must sign the bill into law, but by all indications he’s willing to lend his signature to such worthy legislation.
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This will be a good start. In my opinion, the penalty for poachers can’t be stiff enough. Higher fines will do nothing but good for the DNR, our herd, and it may even eventually help deter the poacher.
IT’S GREAT THIS LAW PASSED, ……..BUT THESE PENALTIES SHOULD BE MUCH HIGHER!!! I LIVE IN CALHOUN Co. AND THE AMOUNT OF DEER I SEE KILLED IS HORRIFIC. BUT LET’S FACE IT; THE DNR GUYS REPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THESE LAWS ARE HUNTERS THEMSELVES. AND BESIDES THE POACHERS AND DNR ARE IN THE SAME BED! WEST VIRGINIA’S DNR I A JOKE. IT PAYS A MAN A DECENT WAGE, PROVIDES A VEHICLE AND GIVES HIM IMPOWERMENT. WHICH VERY FEW MOUNTAINEERS HAVE! YET HE DOESN’T WANT TO LOSE TOUCH WITH HIS COMMUNITY. AND THEREFORE THE CORRUPTION BEGINS. WV NEEDS TO TIGHTEN THE BLANK UP!
I Think this is great! but the fines should be for all deer that are poached not just the BIG BUCKS.YOU CANT HAVE BIG BUCKS WITH OUT DOES AND LITTLE BUCKS FIRST
I THINK THIS IS A BUNCH OF BS AGAIN THE ONLY THING THAT THE DNR AND STATE AGENCY ARE INTERESTED IN IS MONEY… THAT COULD NOT GIVE A DAM ABOUT OUR WILDLIFE JUST HOW TO PUT A PRICE TAG ON IT. WHEN ARE HUNTERS GOING TO WAKE UP AT THE HIGH PRICE TAGS ,HUNTING LIC, AND WANTING TO START CHARGING PEOPLE OVER 65 TO HUNT,JUST ANOTHER MONEY MAKER. ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY…. MONEY… I OWN MY OWN LAND,US TO BUY LIC TO SUPPORT THE DNR BUT NOT ANYMORE THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING FOR OUR WILDLIFE. HOW CAN THIS BE MADE LAW WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF HUNTERS… HUNTERS KEEP PAYING THE HIGH COST AND THE DNR KEEP F… US.